EMC

ElectroMagnetic Compatibility (EMC) is a characteristic of electrical and electronic equipment that permits it to operate as intended in the presence of other electrical and electronic equipment, and not to adversely interfere with that other equipment.

All such equipment emits electrical energy, and some of that emitted energy may interact and interfere with other equipment. Equally, equipment may be susceptible to receiving energy emitted from other sources. Obviously, radio transmitters and receivers are intended to emit and receive electrical energy, but other equipment may not be intended to do so.

Even transmitters and receivers may emit and receive unwanted energy that may prevent those devices, or others, from functioning as intended. It is part of the EMC 'art' to design and operate equipment so that it is both prevented from emitting spurious energy that can cause interference, and is immune to the adverse effects of any spurious energy that it may receive.

EMC regulation

As the effects of interference have severe consequences, EMC is frequently a subject of national and international regulation. Within Europe, EMC regulation is managed mainly through the European Commission's EMC Directive (2014/30EU) and for Radio equipment through Directive 2014/53/EU. However, there are many types of equipment that are excluded from the EMC Directive, although EMC requirements for most of them are included in other Directives and regulations. Here are some examples:

The EMC Directive and many of the other relevant Directives are 'New Approach' Directives. As such, they rely for their operation on Harmonized Standards developed by recognized European standards bodies, such as ETSI. Harmonized Standards define technical characteristics which can be used to demonstrate compliance with the essential requirements of the Directive.

In the case of the EMC Directive, the essential requirements are that equipment shall be designed and manufactured such that:

the electromagnetic disturbance it generates does not exceed a level allowing radio and telecommunications equipment and other apparatus to operate as intended; and

the apparatus has an adequate level of intrinsic immunity to electromagnetic disturbance to enable it to operate as intended.

Equipment which meets Harmonised Standards is presumed to comply with the essential requirements, and a manufacturer may declare conformity with the Directive. Alternatively, manufacturers may choose to request certification of equipment by a recognized third party, known as a 'Notified Body'.

ETSI has accepted the standardization request for Harmonised Standards under the revised EMC Directive and communicated its initial work programme, consisting of Harmonised Standards addressing radio equipment and telecommunications network equipment, to the Commission.

EMC standards for radiocommunications equipment

ETSI has created a multi-part EMC standard (EN 301 489) for EMC for radio equipment, in accordance with the Radio Equipment Directive.

Part 1 of EN 301 489 covers EMC requirements that are common to all radio equipment. The subsequent parts specify additional requirements that are specific to a particular radio service. These include mobile and aeronautical communications, TV broadcasting, satellite services, medical devices and radars.

Marine radio is treated separately. Equipment subject to carriage requirements under the International Maritime Organization (IMO) convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) are covered by the Marine Equipment Directive, and the related ETSI standards for this purpose contain EMC, radio and environmental requirements in one document.

Other marine equipment is subject to the Radio Equipment Directive. The EMC requirements are included in EN 301 843, which follows a similar structure to EN 301 489 for land-based equipment.

International activities

ETSI is an international member of CISPR, the International Special Committee on Radio Interference. This Steering Committee makes the strategic and policy decisions for CISPR. ETSI members are very active in CISPR sub-committee I which writes the global EMC standards for Information Technology equipment and telecom terminal equipment. CISPR I determines the radio-frequency emission limits for all telecommunications equipment which are then incorporated into the ETSI EMC product standards. ETSI also participates in the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Advisory Committee on Electromagnetic Compatibility (ACEC), which co-ordinates EMC standardization in IEC.

ElectroMagnetic Compatibility (EMC) standard for radio equipment and services; Part 1: Common technical requirements; Harmonised Standard covering the essential requirements of article 3.1(b) of Directive 2014/53/EU and the essential requirements of article 6 of Directive 2014/30/EU